Home Forums Fishing Flyfishing Cosumel Mexico Bonefish

Just confirmed flights and two days guided fishing for Christmas. Anybody do the bonefish thing?

I'm an experienced flats guy - Florida, numerous locations in the Bahamas. Looking for fly advise in the Yucatan. Or just a good story?

Craig

Hello, I was at Boca Paila in the spring and had a very nice time. I just heard from a friend that was there recently and he did even better. I caught quite a few bonefish, about 7-10 a day, mostly small and saw several permit. Saw a few tailing fish. Most of mine were either in schools or in pairs. I was using mostly #6 and #8 flies. My favorite is a Peterson Shrimp fly. A little obscure but they work very well. Orvis sells them and gives a good pic. I would recommend theirs but I think they might be too big for these fish. I had a few tied by my local shop with very light eyes. If you have a little time until the trip, I'd be happy to email you the name of the shop. I've bonefished quite a few times with the owner and he ties some beautiful flies. Bunny hair gotchas work well too.

I was using long fluoro leaders. I used a 9ft tapered fluoro leader in 10# attached to a 3-4' butt section of Ande mono with a loop on the end to attach to the tapered leader. That gave me a 12-13' leader. I might switch to 8# if I did it again.

Not sure where you're staying but Boca Paila was a lot of fun. Good food, good guides, no complaints. Where are you staying?

You lucky dog! Bone fish are almost as good as sex. On a trip to Great Harbor Cay, someone in our party came up with the idea of using just a small (about size 10) cream or ivory colored bunny leech. It was a 1.5 inch strip a little less than 1/4 inch wide that was folded over the hook and just tied on at the head. We were carrying all kinds of Charlies and epoxy flies, but after the second day, everyone was hooked up to leeches. I'll have a box full the next time out. You luck dog, 1Minute

We'll be staying at Hotel Cozumel and fishing with Alex Euan.

Sitting down at the vise tonight to tie some size 6-8 stuff. I'm used to fishing the northern Bahamas where size 4 is pretty standard, and a 2 sometimes the ticket. I was just burning some mono eyes until the wife bitched about the fire hazard. Guess I'll finish in the garage.

We'll be heading to Grand Bahama in June. I fish there with Pelican Bay and have had too much fun to mention. Sometimes, you make your own luck. Leaves me penniless, but I can't go a year without a bonefish fix anymore. Gonna be a banner year with two trips! Real suprise is my wife suggested it. She likes the beach. I like bonefish and beer.

Craig

Sounds great. I getting close to pulling the plug on work. A month of vacation a year was simply not enough time to fit in more than family vacations, and a few weeks of steelheading and deer/elk hunting. With retirement, a couple weeks of bonefishing would certainly compliment life. Good luck and post a fish photo or two upon your return. Be safe, 1Minute

An oldie but a goodie - my first bone on a fly. I'd caught a few spinning before, but this one was the start of a major addiction.

Abaco, Bahamas, about 2001. Guide was Captain Rick Sawyer. A really great guy. A friend of his had just died. Said his friend told him "we cry when we're born, we laugh when we die. You laugh a little harder if you're a bonefisherman."



Craig

4_s_ter:

That's right dude. Rub it in while we're sitting up here in perpetual frost for the next 3 1/2 months. Careful, we'll hunt you down and shoot your dog.

Hope you get one almost as big as mine. I'll add a photo to this in the morning. It's on my other machine. Good luck again, 1Minute

Why see? If you're out of frost in 3 1/2, I deserve it more. We'e staring down better than 4.

Craig

I didn't know there were flats around Cosumel for bones. I've also be down to Boca and Pez Maya and caught bones and permit (although small). I've used the crab fly with great success and have had to buy them as I don't tie. Crab flies of any size do just fine.

If you go down that way don't miss Akumal and the ruins there....you drive right past it on your drive.

Idahochukar:

What's wrong with you man?? Trying to divert someone from the water on a fishing trip? You should be jailed for that. They could put Disney World, the Shiloh manufacturing plant, or Victoria Secret's fashion show 10 yards off the pavement on my way to fish or hunt, and I would not ever back off the cruise control.

Well, maybe I would for Victoria.

Take care and have some great holidays. Wish we could pick up a couple of feet of snow. 1Minute

One Minute:

Most beaches down there are 'topless'. Take some Viagra ole man.

And Akumal is one totally beautiful, pristine historical point on the ocean with tons of history. Good stuff. Glad I can plan better than some with my time

Besides, a guy can fish from the beach !

I've got two days guided fishing, one day to rent a jeep and circumnavigate the island, and one day planned to visit ruins.

Here's a bonefish - Exuma, Bahamas in 2007. It was sporty. Windy too.



Craig

And one of my boy, Grand Bahama, 2006 with a (GULP) spinning rod. Hey, you gotta start somewhere?



Craig

Obviously, I had a stouter build and much darker tan when I landed this one. My largest fish, probably about 7 to 8 lbs. These guys can seriously pull some string out.


Out of Great Harbor Cay on an ivory colored bunny leech.

Nice tan!

That is a pig. Drag buster for sure.

Craig

Getting ready.



Craig